We live in a time of increasing mental illness among the population, with a growing proportion of structural ego disorders. These deeper intrapsychic impairments of personality development and alienation of the self are playing an increasingly important role in psychotherapeutic work. The resulting rise in the level of importance of music therapy in the treatment setting is not surprising. With its focus on relationship and emotional awareness, it touches something fundamental, and with its flexibility within a variety of psychotherapeutic methods and the possibility of medical application, it can be adapted to changing circumstances. Monochrome stringed instruments are being used to an increasing extent in human healing. The specific sounds have a strong salutogenic effect and are used successfully in pain treatment, neurology, neonatology, in palliative care and in hospices, psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine, to name just a few of the established fields of application. This collection of essays takes this diversity into account. In addition, the aim is to close a gap in the specialist literature and to provide a synopsis of music therapy sound work with monochord, body tambura, body monochord and sound chair.
The important role of receptive music therapy within medical treatment is illustrated by the descriptions of psychodynamic processes, the depiction of intrapsychic change in the silent process of sound experience and the potential resources and resilience of those being treated that comes to the surface.
Music therapists from Austria, Germany and Switzerland present their extensive knowledge and experience. It should not go unmentioned that this book project, which transcends national borders, is particularly pleasing in this respect, because in Switzerland, music therapy work has focussed on the use of sound from monotonal stringed instruments for more than 20 years, and with very good results. Pioneering personalities here were Joachim Marz (fmws since 1992) and Hans Hägi Santana (KLA since 2008).
This collection of essays aims to open up new perspectives with regard to this specific field of receptive music therapy. Insights into new areas such as prevention research are provided, while space is given to little-researched areas such as the effective use of the concert monochord in child and adolescent psychiatry. In-depth examinations of trance and mystical experiences, as well as use in psychiatry, addiction treatment and, finally, at the end of life, explicate music therapy treatment experiences. The results from outpatient and clinical settings are supported by extensive case studies. In addition, the functions and effects of the therapeutic string instruments are clearly explained.